1 Mark 15:33-41 04/04/2021 Jesus’ Final Days His Resurrection from the Dead

This is my message written out prior to being preached. Please excuse the bullet point format and any grammatical mistakes. This is meant to be spoken.

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And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid. (Mark 15:42-47)

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)

Introduction

• He is Risen! • Today (Resurrection Sunday) we conclude on series on Jesus Final Days on Earth. • Over the past three weeks we’ve focused on His Rejection by Men • and His Revelations from the Cross. • Last week ending with the Effects of the Cross

• What happened both immediately and long term because of the crucifixion? • What were the effects of Jesus’ humiliation and physical suffering? • when he was beaten and nailed to a cross.

• What were the effects of Jesus spiritual suffering? • when he who was sinless took our sins upon himself. • causing His separation from God the Father and Spirit • And finally, what were the effects of Jesus willingly dying in our place?

2 • Let me quickly review the effects we saw last week, First…

1. The Cross Gives Access to God

• Upon Christ’s death, the temple veil, symbolizing the division between a Holy God and a Sinful people, was supernaturally torn from top to bottom. • Showing that those who trust in Christ finished work on the cross, now have access to God. • And Second…

2. The Cross Gives Freedom from Sin and Death

• Upon Christ’s death, the tombs of many saints were opened, and they were raised from the dead. • Showing that those who trust in in Christ’s finished work on the cross are free from the power of sin and death. • And Third…

3. The Cross Reveals Christ

• Upon Christ’s death the pagan Roman centurion who oversaw His Crucifixion. • Who saw all the beatings, the nails, the darkness, • Who saw Jesus declare “it is finished” and willingly commit his life into his Father’s hands… • He declared…

Truly this man was the Son of God! (Mark 15:39)

• For those who have eyes to see, the cross reveals who Christ is. • And finally, we say that…

4. The Cross Draws People to Christ

• Jesus said,

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth (when I am crucified), will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)

• We are drawn to the Christ, who willingly suffered and died in our place for our sins. • The women who were watching from a distance represented this. • Even in the midst of the horrors of crucifixion, they were drawn to Christ.

• So those are the four Effects of the Cross that we saw last week.

3 • Now as we pick up where we left off in the gospel of Mark. • We see one more effect of the cross, that is…

5. The Cross Inspires Courage

• In Mark 15:42 we read…

And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, (Mark 15:42)

• Sabbath regulations required Jesus’ body to be buried before sundown on Friday. • So, what comes next it is done in a great hurry. • Verse 43…

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, (Mark 15:43)

• Joseph was a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin (the Seventy), who ruled Israel. • And he was looking for the kingdom of God. • And he was looking for Jesus to bring about the kingdom. • Because Matthew says that…

…there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. (Matthew 27:57)

• First Matthew tells us that Joseph was rich, which explains why he already had a tomb. • But more important than his riches, he a follower of Jesus. • Despite him being a member of those who vehemently opposed Jesus, he had become a disciple. • Luke adds that…

…He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action... (Luke 23:50-51)

• So, Joseph is a good and righteous disciple of Jesus Christ. • Therefore, He did not agree with the decision of the council to seek to have Jesus put to death. • However, Joseph had issues, John writes...

…Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews… (John 19:38)

• Joseph was a secret disciple of Jesus. • He followed Jesus but he didn’t want other to know about it. • Because of fear, Joseph was keeping his relationship to Jesus a secret.

• This is a warning for all of us! • Fear is a terrible thing. • Fear can cause even a disciple of Jesus to act against what they know to be right and good.

4 • Have there been times in your life when you were afraid to speak up, to stand up for what was good and right? • To make it known to all that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ. • James warns…

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. (James 4:17)

• That certainly describes Joseph. • For even though he had not consented to having Jesus crucified, • there is no evidence he did anything to try and save Jesus. • He kept his relationship with Jesus a secret.

• He was apparently paralyzed by his fear of losing his status, his standing in the community. • He was also probably afraid for his life. • If the council, who led the charge in putting Jesus to death, found out he was a disciple of Jesus. • They may very well have turned on him and sought his death as well. • So, prior to Christ’s death Joseph was a fearful secret disciple.

• However, following Christ’s death on the cross, Joseph came "out of the closet," • He risked everything to obtain Jesus' body for burial.

• The Jews had an understanding with Pilate that the bodies of the crucified would be taken down and buried before 6:00 P.M. when the Sabbath began. • And Joseph knew this meant Jesus' body would be tossed into a common criminal's grave as a final humiliation. • and apparently Joseph could not bear that. • So, In Mark 15:43 we read…

[Joseph] took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. (Mark 15:43)

• This was an extremely dangerous thing to do. • Joseph’s fears were not unfounded. • By making this request he was running the risk of being expelled from the ruling council, • And being ridiculed by the common people… • He may have lost his position, power and prestige and possibly even his life as he identified himself with Jesus, this “false, failed Messiah.”

• So, this as Mark states took courage. • And it was even more courageous because, as far as Joseph knew, there was absolutely nothing in it for him now. • Joseph, like everyone else, including Jesus’ closest disciples was not thinking about a Resurrection.

• As far as they were concerned, Jesus was dead. • The dream was over. • The kingdom of God would not be coming at this point through this man.

5 • And yet, after seeing how Jesus died, Joseph finally took a stand and chose to identify with Him. • And after receiving permission from Pilate… • In Mark 15:46 we read…

And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. (Mark 15:46)

• John tells us that Joseph was not alone in this endeavor…

Nicodemus (another member of the ruling council) also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, (Read about it in John 3) came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. (John 19:39)

• So, what we have are these two Jewish Religious leaders, • Both of whom were secret followers of Jesus before he was crucified. • Now they are willing to make themselves known by taking Jesus body and putting it in Joseph’s own tomb. • This was a remarkably courageous and noble act.

• Jesus’ death, properly contemplated, is inspiring. • His courage in the face of physical and spiritual suffering should cause us to be courageous. • His dedication to accomplish the will of his Father should cause us to be dedicated to God’s will. • His sacrificial giving of his life should cause us to make sacrifices for his sake. • To give our lives for his purposes. • As we look to Jesus’ death on the cross, we should have the courage to obey Jesus command…

If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Matthew 16:24)

• The cross of Christ should inspire great courage among his disciples. • And even more for those of us who know the full story. • Joseph only saw Jesus’ death on the cross and that gave him courage.

• But we know that the crucifixion and death were not the end of the story. • If the story ended in death, • If after Joe and Nick experienced inspired courage to give Jesus an honorable burial, • If there was nothing else, then the name of Jesus of Nazareth would be no more than a passing note in Josephus’ historical writings, if that!

• Why? Because at this point the followers of Jesus were lost… • They filled with despair and depression, • Their hopes and dreams had been shattered.

• There had been darkness for three hours when Jesus was crucified. • And that darkness still hung over the heads of those who loved him.

• Many had given up everything to follow him. • And now he is dead. 6

• As they watched or heard of his death on Friday • As their loss began sink in all day Saturday. • Their despair and hopelessness must have been overwhelming. • But thank God Sunday was coming and Sunday came and with it came…

1. The Reality of Christ’s Resurrection

• Now as we have seen over the past several weeks, the cross is central to Christ’s saving work, • But without the resurrection the cross would have no power! • As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth…

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14)

• If Christ has not been raised, then sharing and believing the gospel is vanity. • What we as Christians have based our current and eternal lives on is pointless. • But thanks be to God the Resurrection is a REALITY! • He is Risen.

• Jesus Christ (on Good Friday) died on the cross for your sins and mine, • But on Sunday Morning he rose from the dead, • Proving His defeat of Satan and His victory over sin and death. • Providing us with resurrection and eternal life in his living presence. • AMEN!

• So, with Mark to guide us, let’s look at some of what the Bible says about the Reality of Resurrection. • Like the rest of the Gospels, Mark doesn’t give us the details of the actual Resurrection. • We don’t know how God the Father raised his Son from the dead.

• The Resurrection took place in a tomb behind a heavy stone. • It was an event that only God (and possibly the angels) were privy to. • However, all four gospels record what happened following the Resurrection. • In Mark 16:1-2 we read…

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. (Mark 16:1-2)

• The godly women who loved and were drawn to Jesus, had a mission to perform. • On Friday they had watched him be crucified. • Now rising early Sunday morning, they went to the tomb to anoint His body with spices. • They knew they must hurry because the heat was already causing the body to decay.

7 • Verse 3 continues, as they walked (or ran) …

And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” (Mark 16:3)

• Notice they were not thinking about or talking about the possibility of resurrection. • Even though Jesus on several occasions, speaking to his disciples, had said things like…

The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise. (Mark 9:31)

• Jesus had warned them about his death and promised them that he would rise. • But apparently this did not compute, it didn’t sink into any of his disciple’s hearts. • Including these women, all they were worried about was the heavy stone. • But as they approached the tomb, Mark says,

And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. (Mark 16:4-5)

• Luke lets us know that there was more than one “man” involved.

While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. (Luke 24:4)

• So, there are seeing at least two “men” in dazzling apparel. • These men were actually angels… • That word dazzling means light or to shine… • The men/angels were glowing. • And the women are rightly both perplexed (what’s going on here) and alarmed.

• The word for "alarmed" expresses both a strong fear (to be struck with terror), and great amazement. • They were terrified and astonished by what they saw. • Then in verse 6 we read…

And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)

• Don’t be alarmed no need to be terrified. "He is risen!" • And with this, the angel invites them to take a look: "He is not here. See the place where they laid him." • Look for yourself, Jesus is Gone!

8 • His formerly dead body is no longer in the tomb. • Every objection to the Reality of the Resurrection of Jesus, is shattered by one question: • "What became of Christ's body?"

• Even the most extreme skeptics do not deny that the tomb was empty. • The Jewish religious leaders who had plotted his execution knew the tomb was empty.

• So where was the body? • The Jews did not have it, for they would have quickly produced it. • The Romans didn’t have it, they were ones guarding the tomb, • And they had no motive to steal the body of this Jewish “criminal”.

• And so the only other option is that Jesus disciples stole his body. • But that doesn’t make sense either.

• For if they had known that Jesus not only died on the cross, but his body had rotted and decayed. • It would have been psychologically and spiritually impossible for them to be and do what the rest of the NT and History records they were and did.

• Following Jesus’ death, his disciples lived lives dedicated to his calling, to his purposes. • They denied themselves, took up their cross and followed him. • And most of them followed him to death as martyrs’.

• They gave their lives for proclaiming the gospel. • A gospel that included Jesus Resurrection from the dead. • And if they had stolen the body, they (all of them) would have known they were proclaiming and even dying for a lie. Not feasible.

• So both the NT and history provided overwhelming evidence that Jesus’ disciples were totally convinced of the Reality of the Resurrection.

• And no other group, the Jews or the Romans could produce Jesus body. • So, when someone says, "I don't believe in your Resurrection," ask them, "What happened to the body of Jesus?" • Okay, back to Mark…

• You may have a note in your Bible that says something like… • Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include Mark 16:9–20… • Most scholars believe these verses were probably added later.

• So, this means two things. • First, we need to be cautions of these verses, as being part of the inspired word of God. • And second, more than likely, Mark ends his gospel with these words… • Speaking to the women, the angel says…

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:7-8) 9 • "Trembling" describes what was happening to their bodies, uncontrolled, continuing tremors. • "astonishment" (literally Greek ekstasis) indicates their ecstasy of mind, their utter amazement.

• So, they were ecstatic, and they were afraid. • That word afraid also has the idea of reverence. • They were experiencing a reverent fear because of what is becoming very clear to them. • That Jesus was not dead, that Jesus had risen from the grave. • Matthew adds another emotion they were experiencing…

So, they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28:8)

• The Resurrection is beginning to be a Reality for Them. • And so they begin to experience great joy. • Can you see them run from the tomb? • Racing toward where they think the disciples may be, their robes flying behind them? • Dying to tell others who love Jesus that he is not dead, that he has risen. • And that is how Mark ends his gospel.

• With the emotional transformation of these women. • Just a few minutes before they had been depressed with no hope. • But now they’re filled with reverent fear and joy and astonishment as they head off to tell the disciples.

• What a picture of the difference the resurrection makes. • We don’t worship a great man who taught a lot of great things and died a heroic martyr’s death for what he taught. • Yes, he was the greatest man and yes, he taught greatest things, and yes, he died the most heroic sacrificial death in all human history.

• But if that’s all we have, then our preaching is in vain, our faith is in vain. • But that is not all we have, because Jesus rose from the dead, • We follow and serve and worship a living Lord who is seated (right now) at the right hand the Father, interceding on our behalf.

• Now even though Mark ends his gospel with the women heading off to tell Peter and the disciples what they had seen. • The other gospels do not. • We know that eventually Jesus appears to all His remaining 11 disciples plus many others. • Establishing the Reality of the Resurrection.

• Now when Jesus appeared to his disciples. Before his ascension. • One of the crucial things he did was commission them to carry on his mission… • To take the gospel the good news of who he is and what he has done to all peoples. • To teach and baptize.

• And that’s exactly what they did. • With great courage they proclaimed the gospel to all who will listen. • The told the good news of Jesus Christ who died but who rose again. 10 • And I want us to briefly look at the first recorded sermon by one of Jesus’ disciples (Peter) • Because it contains at least a glimpse of…

2. The Reason for Christ’s Resurrection

• And by reason, I mean what enabled Jesus to rise from the dead. • Yes, I know it was the power of God. • But remember Jesus Christ had taken on the sin of Humanity, • and because of that he had been forsaken by his Father. • That was Friday,

• So, what enabled the Father and the Spirit to re-establish fellowship with the Son… • And to raise him from the dead-on Sunday.

• I want us to see not only that Christ rose from the dead. • But that his resurrection came as a result of who He is! • I want us to see more of Christ that we might be drawn deeper into relationship with Him. • That we might trust him like never before for our resurrection. • So we turn to Peter’s first sermon where He says…

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. (Acts 2:22-24)

• It was all part of God’s plan and it was God who raised Jesus from the dead. • God loosed the pangs of death for him. • That word pangs literally means “birth pangs.” • Like the pain of a woman in labor which is temporary and results in new life. • the pain of death for Jesus was temporary and resulted in the resurrection.

• Why? And the answer comes… • Because it was not possible for him to be held by it, by death. • Death could not hold Jesus Christ. • In some ways this is mysterious • We can’t fully understand all that was behind how Jesus (who took on the sins of humanity) • Was resurrected by God (who had forsaken Him).

• So yes, the reason for resurrection is mysterious. • But it’s also obvious because of who Jesus is… • In John 11:25 he said…

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, (John 11:25)

• Jesus was not just resurrected he is the resurrection and the life. • He is the embodiment of resurrection; He is the embodiment of life. • Therefore, it was impossible for death to hold him. 11

• Have you ever been to Yellowstone National Park and seen Old Faithful? • I don’t understand geysers and how they work. • But it is sufficient to say that there is something in the nature of Old Faithful that causes it to burst forth on a regular basis.

• Now suppose someone tried to stop old faithful from erupting. • Maybe it’s possible if you had something heavy enough, I don’t know, • But suppose you laid a large piece of cardboard over the geyser. • Would that stop Old Faithful from erupting. • NO…

• And in a similar way, for Jesus’ death was just a piece of cardboard that could not keep him in the grave. • His nature included resurrection and life and so by the power of God he burst forth.

• So, what about our sin that he bore on the cross? • He bore our sin that we might be forgiven, • That we might be declared righteous and be resurrected unto eternal life. • But if Jesus took our sin upon himself, how is he made right with God, • How is he resurrected.

• In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, • C.S. Lewis seeks to answer that question. • Speaking about the Christ-figure Aslan’s Resurrection after he died in place of Edmund Pevensie. • He wrote…

When a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward. (C. S. Lewis)

• And in a similar way, • Christ who had no treachery (no sin), willingly died for our treachery (our sin), • He who was life, was not only able to bear our sins but he was able to defeat sin and death. • Therefore, he did not suffer the eternal wrath of God for the sins he bore… • Instead as Paul wrote to the church in Rome…

God… by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, (Romans 8:3)

• Jesus bore our sin on the cross, but he also defeated (condemned) sin. • And that defeat is applied to HIM. • Fellowship in the Godhead is re-established, and God raises Christ from the dead. • The reason for the resurrection is that Christ is the resurrection and the life… • He defeated sin and death and therefore death could not hold him.

12 • And how should we respond to this… • We conclude with…

3. The (OUR) Response to Christ’s Resurrection

• Let me just point out two ways that we shold respond to the resurrection. • First the Resurrection should impact the way we feel… • The women who were lost in depression despair and hopelessness. • When they understood Jesus had risen, that Jesus was alive, • their emotions were impacted, they were filled with reverent fear and great joy.

• And that should be the case for us as well. • No matter what we experience in this life, • No matter what pain suffering and sorrows we face. • We can have a bigger perspective. • Not that we don’t mourn and grieve. • Not that our pain and suffering isn’t real.

• But our sorrows can be placed in a much greater context. • And therefore, we do not need to be overwhelmed by them. • Because we worship and serve and are in relationship with a living LORD. • A God who not only died in our place but rose again providing us with access to God, • With power over sin and death. • Providing us with resurrection and eternal life.

• If that knowledge does not positively impact the way you feel, then nothing will. • Rejoice, be filled with Joy in the Resurrection of Christ and all it means for you. • So first the resurrection should impact the way you feel.

• And second the resurrection should impact the way you live… • Remember Joseph or Arimathea… • He derived great courage from Jesus’ death on the Cross. • He was willing to risk his reputation and life in order that Jesus body could be properly buried.

• But we can live with even greater courage knowing that because we are in Christ, death has no lasting power over us. • Because Jesus is the Resurrection and the life….Whoever believes in Him, though he die, yet shall he live…

• We can live for Christ now. • We can put our reputations and even our lives on the line for Christ now. • Because ultimately, we have absolutely nothing to lose. • We (those who believe) are divinely protected. • Though we die yet shall we live.

• So, believers allow the truth of Christ’s resurrection to impact the way you feel and the way you live.

13 • And for those of you who have yet to believe. • Let today is the day of your salvation. • As you have heard the word, as you have hopefully seen the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection. • As you have seen the nature of Christ, that death could not hold him. • That he is the resurrection and the life.

• I pray that you would even now in the quiet of your own heart believe. • Put your faith, your trust in Christ Jesus. • Receive his sacrificial offering, his death on the cross for you, as payment for your sins. • And turn to him in repentance, submitting to him as the Lord of your life. • Rejoicing in the fact that he is the resurrection and the life and by believing in Him you will be resurrected unto eternal life…

• Amen! PRAYER

14 • Now we come to the Lord’s table together. (get your cup ready) • Communion is another appropriated response to Christ’s death and resurrection for us. • Communion is a remembrance and celebration of Christ’s broken body and spilt blood.

• And it is the resurrection that makes communion a celebration. • Because the story did not end with death. • It ended with a glorious, resurrected Lord.

• Yes, we remember that in the darkness Christ bore our sins on his broken body. • That he paid for our sins by his spilt blood.

• But now in the Light we can celebrate His saving work, • Because of the Resurrection we know his work was 100% effective.

• We remember that Jesus gave His life (he died on the cross) as a sacrificial offering for our sins. • And we celebrate that death could not hold him, • That he is risen, that he is alive and at work in our lives today.

• It was Passover, a remembrance of the fact that in Egypt, the angel of death had passed over the house of the Children of Israel. • He had passed over the houses that had put the blood of a lamb on the door posts.

• It was also just days before Jesus’ Crucifixion, • Before he became the ultimate Passover lamb that takes away the sins of the world. • and he had arranged to partake in a meal with his disciple (the Last Supper)

• Communion is a remembrance and celebration for those who are Christ’s disciples. • For those who believe. • During the Passover meal Jesus instituted this sacrament… • Luke 22 records…

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19)

• We remember Christ Crucifixion, his broken body, His death for our sins. • And we celebrate his Resurrection, His victory over sin and death. • Let us partake together…

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:20)

• We remember Christ’s Crucifixion, his spilt blood, poured out that we might be forgiven and cleansed. • And we celebrate his Resurrection, that stamp of approval on the new covenant. • A covenant that provides us with not only salvation but resurrection and eternal life. • Let us partake together…

Prayer Dismissal…